Well, I've just returned from my first Board of Directors meeting as your representative. There
are some very exciting things happening within the ApHC!
Our new President is Eric Beene of Nesbit, MS with Larry Baker of Sumner, TX as Vice President.
The Executive Committee consists of Laura Lyon of Howell, MI (Chair, Planning and Review), Debbie Letham of Yukon, OK (Chair,
Rules), Jack Zuidema of Alachua, FL (Chair, Finance), and Bill Thiel of Oconomowoc, WI (Chair, Marketing).
Our marketing department, headed by Merida McClanahan, has been working hard to secure marketing
partners for us. Nutrena Feeds will continue their presence. The Merial Corporation has joined us and there are negotiations
with Aflac Insurance for a program for our members. The Boy Scouts of America are also working with us in the area of their
equine merit badges. Juli Smith Thorson, noted author and editor, is now working for the ApHC part time in the role of communications
consultant and coordinator to assist our more than capable marketing staff in a rebanding effort for our breed and association.
She presented the BOD with a marketing analysis and outlined what must be done to get the Appaloosa marketing efforts on track.
Our new slogan is "Appaloosa- the breed of choice".
Our work on the international front has been met with great success. There was a large foreign
contingent at the show. I was please to meet with the Presidents and Vice Presidents fo the Brazilian Appaloosa Club, the
Australian Appaloosa Club, and the German Appaloosa Club, as well as an exhibitor from France. Also present at the show were
representatives from Austria, Mexico, England, and Italy. Many of these visitors purchased horses for export back to their
country. Our youth foreign exchange program has been a great success, and this year we will be sending youth riders
from here in the US to the European Championships in the fall. The BOD has instituted the International Registration
Incentive Program (IRIP) where horses registered with the ABCC of Brazil, the AAA of Austraila, the ApHANZ of New Zealand,
and the ApHCC of Canada (pending further discussions) will be allowed to register their horses in the ApHC's IRIP program
and be added to our list of approved outcrosses. They will also be eligible for futurity money at hows held in their countries.
The Sale Committee, of which I am a member, is looking into possiblity of online bidding for
this year's World Showcase sale. This sale will be moved back into the sale arena and even if we don't do the online bidding,
it is hoped that we will be able to have a web cam there. There will be an 8% commission on horses sold and/or bought back.
Consignments are due August 1st, so if any of you have something you'd like to sell, get those pictures and papers in!
There are several new activities planned for the National Show next year. We are looking to
revive the Miss Appaloosa America program. The board has not be presented with a proposal on this program yet but I hope it
can happen quickly to allow the regional clubs oppertunity to develop and implement their programs in time for the 2008 National
Show. I will be owrking with Stacey Sordahl, Youth Chairman, on inaugurating a youth horse judging contest. At this point
we are looking at a 4-H division and a collegiate division. Jack Zuidema and his committee have put together a halter and
pleasure slot futurity to be launched at the 2008 National Show.
The performance department will be renewing our contract with Fort Worth for the World Show.
The dates offered to the ApHC are October 24-November 1, 2008. Please note this is one week earlier than we have held it in
the past. We are also looking into developing a Master's Non-Pro show in Reno, NV.
A new drug rule was passed. Contidtionally approved drugs are Bute, Banamine, Surpass, Ketofen,
Arquel, Naproxen, Acetazolamide, Fruosemide or Lasix, Lidocaine/Mepivicaine, and Dexamethasone. We also passed very stiff
sanctions and penalties for abuse of drugs.
The next BOD meeting will be in Albuquerque, NM March 10-12th, 2008. Any member is welcome to
attend the meetings unless they are in executive session so please feel free to join us.
Sandra Matthews
Director Territory II Zone C
